Educational Toy

ABSTRACT

An educational toy designed to be folded, stretched and manipulated into a variety of shapes and designs as hats and the like, said toy comprising a composite polymer foam torus having an outer diameter of approximately 18 inches, an inner diameter of approximately 4.75 inches and a thickness of approximately 0.375 inch.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an educational toy designed to stimulate the imagination of a child, and more particularly to an educational toy that allows a child to construct a variety of hats and masks from a single piece of material by using a set of instructions or his or her imagination.

B. Prior Art

The art of chapeaugraphy, also referred to as hat origami, first originated in the early 1600s with a Parisian street performer named Tabarin, and has come to be associated with the art of manipulating a ring-shaped piece of felt to look like various types of hats. The art was often used as a panhandling trick, and is rarely practiced today. The art form has always used felt as the medium, a material that is potentially dangerous to children and not as flexible as is necessary for some of the more complicated designs anticipated herein. For example, the felt material would be dangerous if a child pulled the ring over his or her head, potentially strangling the child. Given that felt does not stretch, the ring-shaped pieces of felt has to be made in a variety of sizes to accommodate different head sizes, from child to adult. Furthermore, felt is not an ideal material for this application because it creases easily, and does not return to its original form after being manipulated. Felt also does not say bent, often requiring additional fasteners to keep a particular fold in place. Finally, the felt material is not fire-resistant, and can present a fire hazard should it be exposed to an open flame.

As shall be appreciated, the prior art fails to specifically address either the problem or the solution arrived upon by applicant.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Against the foregoing background, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an educational toy that stimulates the imagination of a child.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such an educational toy that is safe for children of any age.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such an educational toy that is composed of a flexible, stretchable material to easily allow manipulation.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide such an educational toy that is non-toxic.

It is but another object of the present invention to provide such an educational toy that may be made available in a variety of colors.

It is yet still another object of the present invention to provide such an educational toy upon which a variety of fasteners may be provided or attached to connect parts.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such an educational toy that is fire resistant.

It is but another object of the present invention to provide such an educational toy that may be made of a glow-in-the-dark material.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such an educational toy that is stretchable, therefore allowing one size to fit all users.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide such an educational toy that is soft and stretchable to prevent accidental harm to a child or user.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such an educational toy composed of a material that does not crease or show signs of prior folding or manipulation.

It is but another object of the present invention to provide such an educational toy that is composed of a material that easily returns to its original form after manipulation.

To the accomplishments of the foregoing objects and advantages, the present invention, in brief summary, comprises a composite polymer foam torus having an outer diameter of approximately 18 inches, an inner diameter of approximately 4.75 inches and a thickness of approximately 0.375 inch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention:

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a top plan view of the educational toy of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric view of the educational toy of the present invention; and

FIGS. 3A-3D illustrates some of the various hat designs that may be constructed using the educational toy of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings and, in particular, to FIGS. 1-2 thereof, the educational toy of the present invention is provided and is referred to generally by reference numeral 10. The educational toy 10 comprises a toroidal ring 100 having a flat profile, said ring 100 having an outer diameter of approximately 18 inches and an inner diameter of approximately 4.75 inches. In the preferred embodiment, the thickness of the ring is approximately 0.375 inch.

The ring 100 is composed of a material having sufficient flexibility and elasticity to allow the ring 100 to be folded, stretched an otherwise manipulated into a variety of shapes and designs, some of which are illustrated in FIGS. 3A through 3D. In the preferred embodiment, the ring 100 is composed of a non-toxic composite polymer foam material. Such material further allows fasteners to be attached to the ring 100 so as to connect parts of the ring 100 together to create more intricate designs. This material also allows the educational toy 10 to be provided in a variety of colors. In addition, the toy 10 may be made of a glow-in-the-dark foam material.

The benefits of the non-toxic composite polymer foam material include its flexibility and elasticity, which also make the product much safer for children, as well as the fact that the material is not damaged upon repeated use and/or manipulation and easily returns to its original shape.

Having thus described the invention with particular reference to the preferred forms thereof, it will be obvious that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 

1. An educational toy designed to be folded into a variety of shapes as hats or masks, said toy comprising a flexible, elastic torus having an outer diameter of approximately 18 inches, an inner diameter of approximately 4.75 inches.
 2. The educational toy of claim 1, wherein said ring has a substantially flat profile and a thickness of approximately 0.375 inch.
 3. The educational toy of claim 2, wherein said torus is composed of a non-toxic composite polymer foam.
 4. An educational toy designed to be folded into a variety of shapes as hats or masks, said toy comprising a flexible, elastic torus having an outer diameter of approximately 18 inches, an inner diameter of approximately 4.75 inches, wherein said ring has a substantially flat profile and a thickness of approximately 0.375 inch, and further wherein said torus is composed of a non-toxic composite polymer foam. 